Reader Letters | Support judges

This letter is in response to the unfair and slanted attacks you have recently levied against three conscientious, hard-working and fair minded judges in Jefferson District Court regarding their findings in a few DUI cases.

The sworn duty of a judge is to follow the law. In a criminal case that means they must presume a defendant is innocent and only convict if they are persuaded beyond a reasonable doubt that he or she is guilty. A finding of guilty is found only after considering the rules, law and precedent adopted by our Supreme Court, the Kentucky and U. S. Constitution.

The last resort of an innocent person and a possible jail sentence is to have an impartial and learned judge listen to the facts presented and render a verdict or decision based on these facts in a dispassionate manner and not on pressure from the newspaper or any special interest group. Thankfully, we have judges in Jefferson County who do just that. They should be supported and not attacked.

STEVEN B. STREPEY

Louisville 40202

Term limits

I read again and again about the lack of action that our present Congress is taking. No real surprise is there. All they are interested in are their jobs. No one else.

Want Social Security fixed? Put Congress on Social Security instead of their own retirement package.

Want insurance fixed? Put Congress on insurance like everyone else instead of their own coverage.

If there was ever a time for a call for term limits for Congress it is now!

Why shouldn't there be a term limit? Even the county sheriff has a term limit. What makes his or her job more important that a member of Congress?

In my opinion, there is no difference. A public servant is a public servant.

Why hasn't anyone proposed this before? The only way is for the people to step up and demand term limits.

Congress won't do it on its own!

MARVIN EADES

Madison, Ind. 47250

Disgraceful vote

Disgraceful - that is what the votes of Senators McConnell and Paul against the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was on Dec. 4. They turned their backs on the 874,000 Kentuckians with disabilities as well as the 56 million Americans with disabilities, the largest minority in the state and the country.

This treaty would only attempt to assure that the rest of the world enact policies and rights for the disabled based on the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a person with a disability who has been using a power wheelchair for over 30 years, I never imagined that a treaty assuring equal access for all would be voted down by our senators. They attempted to justify their votes by falsely stating that it would jeopardize U.S sovereignty, or home-schooled students, or even the parents of children with disabilities. All these claims are patently false. I challenge the senators to show what part of the treaty would have accomplished these absurd assertions.

The main concern was not trying to upset the more extreme fringes of the Republican Party, mainly the tea-party, and not wanting a primary challenger. Even more disturbing was the total disrespect that they showed former Sen. Bob Dole a disabled veteran and architect of the ADA, as well as the thousands of disabled Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

I wish these senators had one-tenth the courage that our veterans and the hundreds of millions disabled worldwide show every day. Perhaps they could think about this when they are flying back and forth from Washington to Kentucky at taxpayer's expense, while millions struggle just to have proper access to buildings and services that could greatly benefit them in their daily struggles.

Please remember how our senators voted on this most basic human rights treaty the next time that they are up for re-election and give them equal access to the unemployment line.

DAVID ALLGOOD

Louisville 40205

Public work, public benefits

People are generally sympathetic to employees when a big company steals worker pensions. Many have a different attitude toward state employees and retirees who are in danger of losing benefits because of legislative malfeasance. Those of us who have been public servants are often seen as parasites getting lavish, taxpayer-funded pensions.

Kentucky government employees work, pay taxes and contribute to their own pensions. But our employer - state government - failed to put in its full pension contribution. Recently we learned that the largest retirement fund for Kentucky state employees is one of the worse - if not the worst - funded government pension in the United States. Many people don't understand. As one person wrote, "Why should I have to support a retirement system that I do not benefit from?"

Every Kentuckian benefits from the work of public servants. We answer 911 calls, put out fires, drive snowplows, keep the lights on and the tap running, protect the environment and process paperwork that is necessary to drive a car, get married, sell insurance or go hunting. The work of civil servants is the glue that holds civilization together. Politicians come and go. What happens to public employees has a direct connection to the quality of services delivered to everyone. That is why the public should care.

EVA SMITH-CARROLL

Kentucky Government Retirees

Frankfort Ky. 40602

Louisville, Kentucky • Southern Indiana

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Reader Letters | Support judges

This letter is in response to the unfair and slanted attacks you have recently levied against three conscientious, hard-working and fair minded judges in Jefferson District Court regarding their